Cable railway



(No Model.)

A. A. SHOBE. v

' CABLE RAILWAY. No. 861,787. Patented Apr. 26, 1887.

WITNESSES. INVENTOR N. PETERS. Phnln-Liihcgraphcr, Washingtun. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ABRAHAM ADAM SHOBE, OF JERSEYVILLE, ILLINOIS.

CABLE RAILWAY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent .No. 361,787, dated April 26,1887.

Application filed August 6, 1886. Serial No. 210,228. (No model.) v

. ters'of reference marked thereon.

5o facility of access, I give preference.

My invention relates to an improvement in cable railways, "particularly of that type employed for street traffic, the cars of which are propelled by an endless cable. I

The objects of my invention are to provide more simple and efficient means than heretofore for combining large cable-carriers with a small cable-tube, and for draining the cabletube into suitably-located pits. These objects I attain by means fully explained in the following specification, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a plan view of-the terminus, showing a portion of that part of the road where the two lines unite in one. Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of thesame, showing the foundation in section. Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional View, taken in the line at a", Fig. 1-; and Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional View, taken in the line 3 3 Fig. 1.

In the drawings, A represents a pit at the terminus of the road; B B, the two tracks of the railway; G, that part of the road where the two tracks are united in one.

In the pit A is a large return-wheel, (1, adapted to revolve horizontally upon a vertical spindle, and has upon its periphery a deep groove for the reception of a cable, (I, which is conducted to and from said wheel by deflecting and guide pulleys 6, adapted, like the large return-wheel, to revolve horizontally.

Beneath that part of the railway where the tracks are united is a pit, c, Fig. 2, in which are cable-carriers f, consisting of grooved wheels adapted to revolve upon spindlesjournaled in iron central supports secured in the foundation of the pit. It is obvious that in lieu of the pit a small tube or tunnel might be employed, either of which would accomplish the same end as the pit, to which, for

between the rails of each line, so that the up- Located per part is at about the same height as the rails, and central thereto, is a cable-tube, 9, divided longitudinally, so as to form a narrow slot, 71., at the top for the grip-arm to travel in, and a wider opening at the bottom for the reception of a gutter, i, which, like the two halves of the cable-tube, is sustained by central supports,J, which are located at suitable distances apart throughout the whole of that part of the road upon which the cable-tubes are employed.

In order to combine with a small, and consequently inexpensive, cableetube the advantages of large cable'carriers, the latter are located in the drain-pits k, and arejournaled in frames supported upon and secured to the floors or foundations thereof, said pits being located at suitable intervals along the line, and adapted not only for the cable-carriers, but to receive the water from the gutters t, which may thence be conveyed away to wherever convenient.

It will be observed that the intervals in the continuity of the gutters at the drain-pits form convenient openings in the bottom of the cable-tube for the admission of the upper part of the carrier-wheels.

The tubes g terminate at their junction, as indicated at Z, Fig. 1, and the slots h unite near the same point in a single slot in the covering m of the pit A, (see Fig. 3,) the central part of said covering being supported by columns n and the outer part upon the side walls of the pit.

The cross-ties b are made of T-iron inverted and bent into the form of a circular are, as shown in Fig. 4, so that the backs thereof may, if so preferred, rest upon inverted arches of concrete or masonry, the ends being provided with chairs 0, surmounted by beamsp, upon which are secured the rails q, the whole connected with the cable-tube by brackets 1*, depending therefrom, to the lower extremities of which the central parts of the ties arebolted, as shown indotted lines in Fig 4.

To the top of the cable-tube are secured plates 8, adapted for lateral adjustment by means of slots 15, provided for the reception of fastening-bolts,,by which said plates are secured to the cable-tube, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. By this construction the width of the slot can be adjusted to compensate for wear by contact with the grip-arm; and this feature isalso employed upon that part of the road where the two lines are united in one, as shown in Fig. 3.

In order to-protect the cable-tube against the effect of expansion of the earth or other material with whichit is surrounded, it is provided with vertical plates to, riveted or bolted to the sides thereof throughout its entire length and reaching high enough to sustain the outer sides of the plates 8, as shown in longitudinal elevation in Fig. 2 and in transverse section in Fig. 4:. It will be observed that the upper edges of these plates being free to vibrate they will yield to the expansion of the contiguous earth or other material and resume their position when the latter contracts, thus relieving the cable-tube of that pressure, which would so contract the slot h as to impede the free travel of the grip-arm.

\ I am aware that a wheel adapted to revolve horizontally in a pit at the end of the track, for the purpose of returning the cable, is not new. i

I am aware that the adjustable plates 8 and nection with my cable-tube, are not new, and

therefore I do not claim them. a

I am also aware that gutters placed beneath the cable-tube for the purpose of draining the same are not new. I therefore do not broadly claim such.

What I do claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is g The combination, with the cable-tube, of gutters secured in cavities in the tops of the central supports by which the cable-tube is sustained, the separate lengths of said gutters terminating in drain-pits, so as to admit at the intervals in their continuity the upper part of the periphery of the cable-carriers to the interior of the cable-tube, for the purpose set forth. y

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 21st day of July, 1886.

ABRAHAM ADAM SHOBE.

Witnesses:

ROBERT NEWTON, A. W. NEWTON. 

